Counselling Methods for Individual Adults

P: (902) 385-8801
E: jessica@innerlandscapes.ca

Each person and situation is unique.  I draw from the following approaches so that I can be flexible to your needs:

Person-Centered Therapy
​Person-centered therapy has been described as a way of being.  The therapist strives to be genuine and empathic, while maintaining unconditional positive regard for clients.  Being heard, seen, and understood as we are, can be deeply validating.  Person-centered therapists focus on building trust and a sense of safety because they recognize the important role the therapeutic relationship plays in helping clients achieve their goals.

Internal Family Systems
​We all have many different parts that make up our whole being.  Some parts are protectors who work hard to keep us safe; other parts are exiles that hold the pain of past wounds.  Sometimes our parts are at odds with each other, creating internal conflict or opposition.  By getting to know our parts and understanding their roles, motivations, and struggles, we can work to bring our parts into harmony.

Psychoeducation
​Psychoeducation involves sharing information about psychology that is evidence-based or generally accepted within the profession.  Information may relate to areas such as cognitive functioning, memory, or emotional processes.  Psychoeducation can help clients gain a better understanding of issues they might be struggling with.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
​Acceptance and commitment therapy is fundamentally values based.  Rediscovering what's important to us and learning how to notice our experiences in different ways is an important step.  By dropping our struggle with difficult thoughts and feelings, we are able to take actions that bring us toward rich, full, meaningful lives.  ACT offers many tools that people can apply in everyday life.

Art Therapy
​Art therapy involves the use of various visual art materials to facilitate nonverbal, creative expression.  This modality is especially helpful for those who have difficulty talking about their experiences or who have become “stuck” using traditional talk therapy.  All skill levels are welcome; the purpose is expression and exploration, not evaluation.  People are often surprised by the depth of insights they can discover, even in the most simple images.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy
​Prolonged exposure (PE) therapy is an intensive, structured treatment designed specifically for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  It targets avoidance of both internal and external experiences and fosters post-traumatic growth.  Research has shown that PE is one of the most effective treatments for PTSD.